US 2009/0266793 A1Published application

Electrical switching appartatus, and arc chute and arc member therefor

AssigneeEaton Corporation

InventorsJames G. Maloney, Michael J. Erb

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An arc member is provided for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes an operating mechanism for opening and closing separable contacts, and an arc chute disposed proximate the separable contacts to attract an arc generated thereby. The separable contacts include a stationary contact and a movable contact. The stationary contact has an edge, which is disposed in a plane. The arc member includes an arc element disposed between the stationary contact and the arc chute. The arc element has first and second portions and first and second arc attractors. The first arc attractor extends outwardly from the first portion toward the plane of the edge of the stationary contact to draw the arc from the separable contacts to the arc member. The second arc attractors, which are disposed on the second portion of the arc element, direct the arc into the arc chute.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An arc member for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed within said housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, and an arc chute disposed proximate said separable contacts in order to attract an arc generated by said separable contacts, said separable contacts including a stationary contact and a movable contact being movable into and out of electrical contact with said stationary contact, said stationary contact having an edge, said edge being disposed in a plane, said arc member comprising:

an arc element structured to be disposed between said stationary contact and said arc chute, said arc element including a first portion and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion;
a first arc attractor disposed on said first portion of said arc element, said first arc attractor being structured to extend outwardly from said first portion of said arc element toward the plane of said edge of said stationary contact, in order to draw said arc from said separable contacts to said arc element;
and
a number of second arc attractors disposed on said second portion of said arc element, said number of second arc attractors being structured to direct said arc into said arc chute.

1 more element

An arc chute for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed within said housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said separable contacts including a stationary contact and a movable contact being movable into and out of electrical contact with said stationary contact, said stationary contact having an edge, said edge being disposed in a plane, said arc chute comprising:

a number of chute members structured to dissipate an arc generated by said separable contacts;
and
an arc member comprising:
an arc element structured to be disposed between said stationary contact and a corresponding one of said number of chute members, said arc element including a first portion and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion,
a first arc attractor disposed on said first portion of said arc element, said first arc attractor being structured to extend outwardly from said first portion of said arc element toward the plane of said edge of said stationary contact, in order to draw said arc from said separable contacts to said arc element, and
a number of second arc attractors disposed on said second portion of said arc element, said number of second arc attractors being structured to direct said arc into said number of chute members of said arc chute.

3 more elements

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

a housing;
separable contacts enclosed within said housing, said separable contacts including a stationary contact and a movable contact being movable into and out of electrical contact with said stationary contact, said stationary contact having an edge, said edge being disposed in a plane;
an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts;
and
an arc chute disposed proximate to said separable contacts in order to attract an arc generated by said separable contacts, said arc chute comprising:
a number of chute members, and
an arc member comprising:
an arc element disposed between said stationary contact and a corresponding one of said number of chute members, said arc element including a first portion and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion,
a first arc attractor disposed on said first portion of said arc element, said first arc attractor extending outwardly from said first portion of said arc element toward the plane of said edge of said stationary contact, in order to draw said arc from said separable contacts to said arc element, and
a number of second arc attractors disposed on said second portion of said arc element, said number of second arc attractors being structured to direct said arc into said arc chute.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.